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Works Expenditure for the Year. The total amount expended on the works during the year was 426,810 16s. lid,; this includes wages, hire of teams, repairs, supplies, &c. Of this amount, £22,045 Bs. Bd. was paid out of Imprest Account. Piecework contracts totalled £8,447 15s. 6d., day labour of all descriptions £10,717, hire of teams £1,436 Bs. lOd. Principal Works proposed. The principal works to be carried out during the next financial year are as follows : — 1. Continuation Omehu outfall. 2. Continuation Kopeopeo deviation. 3. Dredging western drain deviation. 4. Dredging Reid's central drain. 5. Construction of White-pine Bush Road and drain. 6. Improvement to Orini River. 7. Formation of Railway Road. 8. New outlet drains and general development-work. General. Dredging machinery has been acquired for placing on the Tarawera River, and is now being rebuilt. A powerful boiler is being made for this machine, as none' was included in the purchase. Other important structural alterations are also being made, but owing to shortage of boilerplates, skilled labour, and the influenza epidemic much delay has arisen at Port Chalmers as regards this work. However, delivery will be given very soon now. I would have preferred a dredge of the Dipper type from America, but it was impracticable owing to war conditions and difficulties of getting delivery. Probably from now on there, will not be this disability, but certainly the next best thing was done in obtaining the Kingston plant and rebuilding it. The wages vouchers for labour, contracts, and hire of teams, Arc, are prepared at Thornton and finally dealt with in the Auckland office, and accounts for supplies, &c, are prepared in the latter office. The officer in local charge is Mr. J. H. Treseder, Land Drainage Engineer, who has been very zealous and energetic in carrying out his duties. I have, &c, J. B. Thompson, The Under-Secretary for Lands, Wellington. Chief Drainage Engineer. Rangitaiki Land Drainage Account Statement of Transactions during the Year ended 31st March. 1919. Receipts. £ s. d. [ Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance in band at Ist April, 1918 .. 4,269 16 2 I Drainage-works, stop-banks, clearing Debentures issued under Rangitaiki Land ebannels, and other expenditure inoiDrainage Act, 1910 .. .. 25,000 0 0 ! dental to drainage operations .. 27,345 IS 8 Rents ..,,.. .. . . 10 0 0 Management and engineering expenses .. 621 18 3 Thirds and fourths' .. .. .. 12 17 (i Travelling-expenses .. .. 109 fill Kates — £ ». d.. Compensation for purchase of Native Year 1917-18 .. 3,876 8 () land under section 8 of the Rangitaiki ~ 1918-19 .. 247 1 10 Land Drainage Aot .. .. 226 3 11 4.123 910 Machinery and plant . . .. .. 733 13 1 Balance in band, 31st March, 1919 .. 4,379 2 8 £33,416 3 li £3.3,416 3 6 Balance-sheet, Liabilities. £ s. d. Assets. £ s. d. Debentures Rangitaiki Land Drainage Drainage - works Expenditure in conAct, 1910.. .. .. .. 145,000 0 0 nection therewith, including wages. Consolidated Fund—lnterest paid .. 13,666 2 9 supplies, administration, engineering Unpaid purchase-money Sundry Natives 4SS 16 0 expenses, and depreciation of plant .. 129,470 1 2 Suspense Account .. .. '.. 152 4 4 Redemption of debentures -Rangitaiki Loan Redemption Account .. .. 4.173' 8 8 Land Drainage Board .. .. 2,100 0 0 Interest on debentures .. .. 10,109 14 7 Investments—Public Trust Office .. 904 5 4 Land for Settlements Account. . .. 20 0 0 Machinery, plant, tools,.and stores ~ 8.510 4 0 Sundry ratepayers .. .. .. 7,987 4 0 Cash ..' .. .. .. 4,379 2 8 £163,480 11 9 £163,480 11 9 J. H. O'Donnell, Chief Accountant.

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